davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
The fAsrga,s FIRST DINNER.
Merlatti's Knife and Fork Idle Even
After the Fifty Days Fast.

Merlatti, contrary 10 expectation, accom-
plished his extraordinary fasting feat, which
commenced fifty days before. There has
been some doubt as TO his having completely
fulfilled the terms of his engagement, since
he began to take little chemically prepared
wine at $50 o'clock one afternoon, the stipu-
lated time being $3.50. He was also given
some pepsum and meat powder, but his
stomach rejected them. The wine, however,
did him good, and he was able 10 swallow it
in repeated gulps and with infinite relish.
According to the opinion Of some of the
doctors he win be unable to eat any solid
food for twenty-five days to come.
Those who flocked to the Grand Hotel
recently for the purpose of seeing the Italian
take his first installment of nourishment were
rather disappointed at finding, not the corpse
like form which they expected, but man
still apparently in health and spirits, although
languid in body and anRmic in feature.
Merlatti was propped up ON pillows and re-
clined ON a couch, near which were exhibited
some of his drawings. A long counter kept
the frequent and inquisitive crowds of men
and women who thronged to SEQ him from
approaching too near his resting place. The
comparative healthiness of the mans appear.
ance after so long a fast can only be attribut.
ed to the fact that the pangs of hunger are
mitigated and intermittent after the first five
or six days. Thus, when first saw Merlatt
there was strong expression of pain on hi.
face, and his eyes were of an unnatural
brilliancy These symptoms were quite con
sistent with his case, because the agony o.
hunger is most acute in the earlier stages o.
suffering. Since then he has been in a stat
of languor and exhaustion, varied occasion
ally with feverishness, pains in the head
frended dreams and touches of madness
Latterly he had begun to suffer mort
severely in the head and stomach, but hi
energy has enabled him to persist in his de
termination to the bitter end. Efforts wer
of course made to make him break his fast {
fortnight ago, yet there is every reason t
believe that he has done his best to subsist OF
nothing during the fifty days but the filtered
water. left Merlatu this evening at tn
banquet, over which he presided, in tn
Grand Hotel. Every seat at the tables we
full, and nearly one hundred guests, amont
them being some women and children, wer
present. The Italian sat among the mem
bers Of the medical committee, q lady beinj
on his left. He seemed TO regard the ricl
viands, appetizing sauces and sparkling
wines spread out in profusion before hin
with half sad, half amused air, but hi
knife and fork were silent amid the clatte
of plates and the popping of champagne
| Paris Cor. London Telegraph.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19

Writing from Darjeeling to Nature,
the Hon. Ralph Abercrombie says:"Three
cases have come under my personal OBJ
servation in which brown-skinned ma
tives, in very different parts of the
world, blacken their faces to protect
them from the intense light and heat.
The examples he gives are those of the
inhabitants of Morocco, as well as of
others along the north of Africa, who
blacken themselves around the eyes to
avert opthalmia from the glare of hot
sand. The natives of Fiji do the same
and so do the natives of the Silkim hills,
and it is only reasonable to suppose that
a practice of such wide diffusion, and
such striking similarity, is found useful,
that is, protective in the places and I'M
der the conditions contemplated.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
The Virus of Chambers.

Chambers has become so prevalent and
SO destructive in Illinois that the state
livestock commission will probably
hasten to avail itself of the results of the
recent Investigations of NM. Cadeac and
Malet on the resistance of the virus of
this disease to the destructive agency of
atmospheric air and heat In general
way it may be stated that these prove
that the virus-like Koch's cholera germ
is rendered inert by thorough drying
Fragments of farcy buds from the lungs
retain virulence in the central parts as
long as twenty-four days, while the
more external layers lose theirs at rates
dependent on the facility with which
they become desiccated in the atmos-
phere. An atmosphere saturated with
moisture and at ordinary temperatures
preserves the virulence of the morbid
humors for very long periods of time
fifteen to thirty days. Boiling the virus
for two minutes in water suffices to de-
stroy its activity, but simply pouring
boiling water on the morbid material
does not destroy its virulence. Chicago
News.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
An Empress Among Lunatics.

Empress Elizabeth of Hungary re-
Gently visited tho Vienna lunatic asylum
with the wife of Prince Karl Theodore, her
brother, the famous oculist. Nearly all tho
mad men and women recognized the empress,
who had visited the place before, and several
noblemen kissed her hands while the women
knelt to receive htr blessing. One lunatic
approached her majesty and said; "No ono
would ever think YOU were a grandmother. "
There was such touch of flattery combined
with the opposite sentiment in this that the
empress broke into uproarious laughter and
asked the lunatics name and if she were
durable. She was told she was and her
majesty Immediately ordered that anything
tho woman wanted should be charged to the
imperial purse.-Foreign Letter.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19

But the chief object Of interest on the
top of Popocatapelt is the crater.
Imagine the interior Of a mountain liter
ally blown out by an explosion. to the
depth of 600 or 800 feet, leaving mar
row rim perpendicular on its inside sur
face. This would be no exaggerated
picture of the real appearance of the
crater. stood and looked over tho
dizzy brink in mute establishment. A
vast cavity, unsupported from the out
side, sank away at my feet rock ribbed,
ragged and torn, along its precipitous
sides. Out of orifices in its deep and
dismal bottom rose jets and streamers
Of steam, putting and blowing in the dead
air.
Having no object at hand by which
TO gauge the size, was greatly deceived
as to the magnitude Of this cavity in the
mountains bowels. supposed it meas
ured perhaps 500 feet across, but
friend subsequently told me that ball
from his rifle did not reach the opposite
wall, as indicated by no displacement of
stones. 1t is fully a mile in diameter,
and workman who had wrought in the
crater extracting sulphur, told me that
the fumeros, or vents of steam, instead of
beinga foot in diameter as they appeared
to be, measured from twelve to eighteen
feet. The vapor pouring out Of these
holes is highly impregnated with sui
phur, which is deposited en- the rocks
and in the soil and hecomes an mex
haustible supply of this mineral. The
crane and rigging for lowering the
workmen into this inferno still remains
in place, but the rope having been UNI
used for three years, no one cares to
trust his weight upon it.
An awful silence now broods over this
scene Of emptiness and desolation, in
striking contrast with the roar and tur-
bulence which terrified the Spaniards,
who attempted to ascend the volcano
$50 years ago. At brief intervals a rock
or boulder rolls laundering down the
precipitous sides to the bottom, displac-
J ing other stones on its way, and one can
not help wondering what must have
been the original depth of the crater,
which after 200 years of such accre-
tions, still measures more than 900 feet.
1t was with a sigh of regret that 70 at
last turned away from these most aston
ishing and stupendous remains of vol
canic actions, and prepared to make our
} descent to lower earth.-Mexico Cor.
, Cleveland Leader.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19

Animals get rid of their parasites by
using dust, mud clay, etc. Those sur
fering from fever restrict their diet,
keep quiet, seek dark, airy places, drink
water, and sometimes plunge into it.
When a dog has lost its appetite it eats
that species of grass known as dogs
grass, which acts as an emetic and a
purgative. Cats also eat grass. Sheep
and cows, when ill, seek out certain
herbs. An animal suffering from chronic
rheumatism always keeps, as far as pos
sible, in the sun. The warrior ants
have regular organized ambulances.
Latrieilie cut the antenne of the ant,
and other ants came and covered the
wounded part with transparent fluid
secreted in their mouths. If Chin
panzee is wounded it stops the bleeding
by placing its hand on the wound OF
dressing it with leaves and grass. When
an animal has a wounded leg or arm
hanging on it completes the amputation
by means of its teeth. 2
A dog on being stung on the muzzle
by a viper was observed to plunge its
head repeatedly for several days into
running water. This animal eventually
recovered. A sporting dog was run over
by carriage. During three weeks in
winter it remained lying in a brook
where its food was taken to it, This
animal recovered. A terrier hurt its
right eye. 1t remained under counter
avoiding light and heat, although il
habitually kept close to the fire. 1
adopted general treatment, rest ant
abstinence from food. The local treat
ment consisted in licking the upper sur
face of the paw, which it applied to thu
wounded eye; again licking the paw
when it became dry. Animals suffering
from traumatic fever treat themselve
by the continued application Of colo
water, which M. Delaunay considers t.
be more certain than any of the othe
methods. In view of these interesting
facts we are, he thinks, forced to admi
that hygiene and therapeutics as pro
luced by animals may, in the interest o
psychology be studied with advantage
New Orleans Picayune.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Loves SOLITUDE ANp SOCIETY.

When must go into the turmoil rude
ofworldly men and ways cheerily 20,
Since | am there as one that hath no foe,
But moves in sylvan peace, where boughs exc
cude
The too fierce sun and paths with leaves are
strewed,
And bird-sought brooks in shady stiffness flow
need not shun the turmoil, since know
That Love win make for me sweet solitude.
And II l into exile must DO sent
Let me not grieye; the Fate's commanding lips
Ilis7 and take my way without a fear,
If in the desert must pitch my tent
Love hath within itself all fellowshps,
Is friends and home and rest and plenteous cheer
Atlantic Monthly.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
PHASES OF ITALIAN wlTcHcRAFT.
Curious Things Recommended for Pur-
poses of Luck--A Strange Case.

Curious Things Recommended for Pur-
poses of Luck--A Strange Case.
From such persons you may hear that If
any one takes the eggs out Of ravens nest
boils them so as TO render them incapable Of
incubation and replaces them the parent
birds will fly to brook and fetch thence a
white stone Of the size and shape Of the eggs
The stone, they say, it places carefully among
the eggs and then sits on eggs and stone to-
gether The stone restores vitality to the
eggs, and after the brood is fledged and has
flown it is left behind in the nest. 1t has,
however, suffered great change It's now
semi-transparent, and in every respect except
It's weight and hardness is exactly like an
egg II it be placed near any poisoned food
the yelk begins to move violently and thus
warns the fortunate possessor Of his danger.
The lapwing is even more given TO sorcery.
1t always deposits n stone the size of pea in
its nest. What use it is to the bird or its
family no one seems to know, but II any one
finds it and PAGES it under the pillow of a
sleeping person he will answer every ques-
ton that does not exceed the limits of human
knowledge with perfect truth in the language
in which it is asked. The marvellous stories
told of serpents are innumerabe. There ID
one about yard in length and as thick "a
the upper part of q strong mans arm, which
haunts dry wooded places. 1t is so venomous,
especially in May, that not only will the first
person 1t bites in that month die himself but
any one who stands beside or comes to help
him will share the same fate II he falls be-
meath tree, that too, or If it be very large,
at least one-half of it will be killed.
Again, serpents of all kinds are very fond
of milk. In the old days, before the railway
was built, coachman who used to drive OF
the road between Foggia and Naples ono,
fell asleep outside little inn while his horse,
were batting. His mouth was open and q
snake crept down his throat. After this he
felt unwell, though he did not know why,
and none of the doctors could tell what was
the matter with him At last he consulted
the professors of the University of Naples
They hung him up by his feet and placed 6
great bowl of milk beneath his head. The
snake, attracted by the smell, crept out t.
drink, but still kept great part of its body
in the mouth and throat of the coachman
A young doctor sprang forward, pulled i
put and threw it away, when it was killed
1t was about two and half feet in length
After this tho patient was as well as ever.
Saturday Review.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
New Method of River Mining.

A novel way of river mining is now being
carried on near the Garibaldi Mining COM
pany's property on the Stanislaus river, two
miles below Robinson's Ferry. The plan
consists of scow twenty by sixty feet on
which is placed steam engine and boiler of
fifteen horse power with powerful suction
pump attached. The pump not only throws
an immense stream Of water, but at the
same time draws the sand, rocks and gravel
from the bed of the river at the rate of fifty
tons per hour. The pump discharges into
the head of a flume running the entire length
Of the scow, and drops the material, less the
gold, some ten feet away from the stern Of
the boat. Any large rocks that may OBJ
struct the free working Of the pump are
hustled out of the way in short order by
large and powerful derricks. AS the Stanis-
laus river is noted for its heavy gold deposits
the results can hardly fail to meet if not
greatly exceed, the anticipations of the Chi
cago capitalists who have it in charge
Calaveras (Cal.) Prospect.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Good Qualities of the oyster.

ut is all nonsense about steady diet
on oysters being injurious to the sys-
tem," said wealthy Thirty-fourth street
physician to a reporter the other day.
MANY persons think SO, however. II
may be that oysters do not produce the
most pleasant results when cooked in a
rich style and eaten just before going to
bed. When taken with wine late at
night, of course, if there is any bad eff
feet the next day the oysters are blamed
for it, Oysters have excellent medicinal
qualities, are nutritious, and when
plainly cooked or eaten raw are very
wholesome, especially so in cases of.in-
digestion. Oysters never produce indi-
gestion, and that is something that can
not be said of any other alimentary sub
stance. During my experience l have
found in several case where oysters have
been taken daily they have done much
toward curing the patient Invalids
have discovered in oysters the required
aliment, besides being by far the mos
agreeable food to take. Raw oysters
too, are said to be very good for hoarse
ness, although have never tested theil
merits on that point. 1t is my belief
that the oyster is the most healthfu
article of food known to man."-New
York Mail and Express.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Ro.ton. Every Inch Of Him. -

"Have you any ash trees on the COM
mon?" my fellow pilgrim asked police
man who was walking along declining
some Latin noun (the only thing Boston
policeman ever does decline). He stopped
and looked at my friend with the utmost
commiseration for his ignorance. 1--WE
have the 'Fraximus Americana, he re-
piled. waving his stick in the direction
of white ash not far away. Boston,
every inch of him. Boston Cor. Chicago
News
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
1887.
Harper's Magazine.
IILUSTRATFD.
1887.

Harper's Magazine during 1877 will contain
novel of intense political, social and ro-
mantle interest entitled "Narka"-a story OF
Russian life-by Kathleen O'Meara; q new no.
vel entitled April Hopes" by W. d. Howells;
Southern Sketches" by Charles Dudley War
ner and heDecca Harding DAVIS, Illustrated
by William Hamilton Gibson; "Gre 4
American Industries continued; "Soclal
Studicaf by Dr. II. T. Ely; further acticles on
the Railway Problem by competent writers;
new series Of illustrations by ". A. Abbey
and Alfred Parsons; articles by n, r. Roe; and
other attractions.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Origin of a Salt Mine.

In the eastern coast of the Caspian sea
a curious phenomenon is in progress.
Kara Bobhaz is an estuary nearly sep
arate from the main body of the sea by
a bank through which there is an inlet.
The evaporation from this gulf is SO
great that current continually sets in
from the Caspian; and as there is no re-
turn current, the water of the gulf be-
comes more and more saliferous, and a
deposit of salt is in course of formation.
In time this gulf will be cut off from the
Caspian, and win then be dried up and
become an extensive salt-bed. New
York Commercial Advertiser.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Fisher-FoIl poOa,iarities.

1t is not to be wondered at that these poor,
ignorant people, who 1.-Two on or by the sea
all their lives, are imbued with queer notions
and superstitions concerning it, They do
not acknowledge this readily, are rather
ashamed of it, indeed, and it takes time and
familiarity to bring these superstitions to
light. They appear to endow the sea with
sentient power, with an intelligent and gen
orally malignant win. 1t is ever ready to
undo human labor and destroy human hope.
Before very rough weather there occasion
ally comes a strange calm, hush like to
nothing save the holding Of breath before
furious outburst of rage. 1t has weird
effect, coming, as it often does, at nightfall
After this dull, wailing muffied sound
creeps out Of the darkness sound as of
lamentation and entreaty heard from afar
Tho seq is calling" they say here; and
when this happens the fishermen expect gale
before morning When the sea has got hold
Of its prey and there is house or houses
desolate in the village, they hold that it
mourns, making quite a different sound to
any other time.
About funerals there are odd observances
and ideas. 1t is unlucky either to meet or
to cross funeral train. There are girls in
the village who are a sort of professional
mourners Though unpaid for children and
young women who die unmarried. They
are dressed in black, with white hoods, and
shawls Of white spun silk on their shoulders.
Six of these mourners is the mystic number,
and whenever one is married another is
selected to fill her place. Probably It'll con-
sidered post of honor, for there never seems
q vacancy, though I do not know how the
selection is made. They are grave looking
damsels, SO it may be by their fitting appear
ance. At young mans funeral there are
only two Of these girls, who walk before and
are called "servers." The Dissenters have
custom of singing a sort of dirge over their
dead, not unlike in effect the chanting of
the monks at funeral in Rome. But when
the sad duties are done comes time Of feast
ing. Their pride forbids them to have any
thing but "a menseful funeral" Another
popularity is that when the people are asked
to attend, it is by men and girls named
''oidders'' mot necessarily relatives of the
deceased) Art Journal
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Mechanical Traps for the Sucker.

A good many people think that most OF
the gambling houses in Chicago ore run
''on tho square" but Hendrie, the expert
clock and model maker, tells me that he is
often called in by gambling gentlemen to
make some contrivances for their use.
lie says he has made for certain well
known gambling shop proprietors in Chi
cago, hold out" devices for use in poker, as
well as "str.pper" attachments for faro
boxes, The roulette wheels, he says, he
never heard of being tempered with, proba-
bly, because the odds against the player are
about as three TO two, and that gets away
with his money quite fast enough. Chicago
Herald.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Her Grief Assuaged.

A little New York girl, while spend
ing the summer in the country, became
very much attached to pet chicken,
which she wished to take home with
her.
"That's impossible, Sadie" said her
mother. ave wouldn't know what tc
do with it. If you don't want to leave
it here, why not let Uncle James xiii it,
and wen have it for supper"
"Oh, mamma" sobbed the little girl,
4can have all the white meat2"-New
York Sun.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Danish the Railroad Stoves.

For the last forty years, since railroads
have been equipped with heavy cars and
run at high rates of speed, scarcely a year
has passed without the loss of life from burn
ing car wrecks. The method Of heating cars
now is substantially the same as it was forty
years ago. Each car has a stove, and the
only Improvement yet made is better system
of securing them more firmly and putting
them in sort of metal casing. But tho be-
ginning of the present year has shown again,
and with horrible emphasis, that the precau-
tons against the burning of wrecked cars
are totally inadequate, and that the present
system of heating should be superseded by
something radically different.
The method employed upon the elevated
railroads in this town shows that q train of
cars can be perfectly heated without the pos
sibility of fire in case of accident. That
method consists in a pipe furnished with
steam from the locomotive, and it serves the
whole train, each car being heated equally
from end to end. 1t is very simple plan,
and it should be adopted upon all railroads.
There would be another very great adj
vantage in the use of this system. AS it is
now, the brakeman tends the stove, and as
he has other duties he piles ON all the coal
the stove will hold and lets it 60 The usual
result is that when there is any fire at all il
is a roarer enough to roast anything as far
away as the sixth row Of seats and to give
all the passengers headache. But if the en-.
gineer controlled the heating he would be
able to regulate it with more constant atten-
ton and more disinterested Judgment. BY
next year there should not be single stove
in use in passenger train in this whole
country, and if the present engines are not
big enough to supply the additional steam
required bigger ones should be put in theii
places, New York Sun.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
The Bnsln OF the Congo.

A famous French authority writes
from nine years experience in French
Congo that he has come to the conclu-
sion that the west African territory and
the basin of the Congo must be left to
be developed by the original inhabitants
and not be colonized by immigrants
1ostoa Budget
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
Prevention of Consumption.

The extent to which consumption can
be prevented in a community, If it is
treated as contagious disease, is shown
by the experience OF Naples, where for
eighty years it was SO treated, with pre-
cautions so rigid as to be inhumane, but
with the result of practically stamping
out the disease. -Chicago News.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-19
New yorh., CATHOLIC eovernor.

Many people are probably not aware
Of the fact that New York had an Irish
Catholic governor in 1888. and for some
years after. This was Thomas Dongon,
the younger son of Sir John Dongan, an
Irish baronet, and nephew to Richard
Talbot, earl OF Tyrconnel.